For most U.S. phone users, Tubi or Pluto TV are practical free-video picks. Spotify suits music, and TikTok suits short-form viewing. That mix gives you different ways to have fun without loading your phone with similar apps.
A free ad-supported tier is a version of an app funded by advertising instead of a recurring subscription. The right setup depends on whether you watch movies, listen to music, or want quick videos. Your habits matter more than a long list of choices.
Some users want a film for a quiet night, while others fill spare time with songs or short clips. Start with the content you reach for most often, then add another app only when it serves a different purpose. That keeps entertainment easy to find and leaves room for the apps you use every day.
Start with one app that matches the content you watch most, rather than filling a phone with overlapping services.
Which Best Entertainment Apps Work for Movies and TV?
For free movies and shows, start with Tubi or Pluto TV; choose a subscription service when its catalog is the priority. Free viewing comes in different forms: some apps focus on on-demand titles, while others add live channels.
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and Peacock TV are subscription options. Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling Freestream, Kanopy, and Plex offer free viewing, though their content and features differ.
Subscription apps for on-demand catalogs
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and Peacock TV suit viewers who want those services’ movie and series catalogs. In the November 2026 U.S. iPhone Entertainment chart, Amazon Prime Video ranked #8, Disney+ #9, Netflix #16, Peacock TV #20, and HBO Max #24.
Those ranks show a chart snapshot, not whether a platform fits your taste. Pluto TV ranked #37 in that chart; its U.S. iPhone app had a 4.8 rating from 1.6 million ratings and a 132.6 MB size. The app was rated 13+.
Free apps for live TV and on-demand viewing
Android users can get Tubi and Pluto TV, both available on Android and iOS. Free movie apps on the Play Store include both: Tubi centers on on-demand viewing, while Pluto TV also has live channels.
- Tubi streams without an account or subscription. It supports iOS, Android, the web, smart TVs, and streaming sticks.
- Pluto TV has on-demand movies and shows, plus hundreds of free live-TV channels. Save channels to Favorites and titles to a Watchlist.
- Sling Freestream focuses on live channels. It works on iOS, Android, the web, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung TV, and Xbox.
- Kanopy offers ad-free streaming on iOS, Android, the web, Roku, Apple TV, and Chromecast.
- Plex offers more than 50,000 free movies and shows, plus over 600 free live-TV channels. It can also connect Netflix, Max, Paramount+, and Prime Video accounts for browsing.
Before relying on Plex for personal media, check that Plex Media Server version 1.41.2 or higher is installed and running.
Google TV is a discovery and purchase hub, not a free streaming library. It browses more than 700,000 movies and episodes across apps, supports watchlists across devices, and includes a phone remote for Google TV and other Android TV OS devices.
Google TV purchases can be downloaded for offline viewing on a laptop, Android phone, or tablet. Google TV was updated on November 2, 2026, and its phone remote can help when the TV remote is out of reach.
What Music Apps Fit Your Listening Habits?
Spotify is the clearest pick for a free tier, while Apple Music, Tidal, and Qobuz suit listeners prioritizing high-quality audio features. For paid listening, compare the monthly cost with the sound options or extras you will use.
Spotify Premium costs $13 per month and includes lossless music, audiobooks, and Spotify Connect. Apple Music costs $12 monthly for 100 million tracks, spatial audio, and hi-res audio.
Paid services for higher-quality audio and extra features
Tidal costs $11 per month and offers high-fidelity streams, Dolby Atmos mixes, and concert livestreams. Amazon Music Unlimited costs $12 monthly for Prime members, with hi-res and spatial audio.
Qobuz costs $13 per month and pairs hi-res streaming with a music download store. YouTube Music costs $12 monthly and offers a music locker, a place in an app to access your existing music collection.
Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, Qobuz, and YouTube Music each offer a 30-day free trial. A trial gives temporary access to a paid service, rather than ongoing free listening.
Free tiers and trial periods
Spotify and YouTube Music have free, ad-supported options; Deezer offers a free tier for mobile users. Apple Music, Tidal, and Qobuz do not offer free tiers.
Deezer also lets users convert a music catalog at no extra cost. That can help when you want to move your saved music to a different platform.
For the best free entertainment apps with music, try Spotify, YouTube Music, or Deezer’s mobile tier without starting a subscription. A free tier and a 30-day trial are different access models, so choose ongoing ad-supported listening or a short paid-service test.
Compare the monthly price and the specific audio feature you will use before starting a paid plan.
What Can You Do Beyond Streaming Movies and Music?
TikTok and PineDrama serve different quick-viewing interests, with short-form social video on one side and serialized short dramas on the other. Choose by format: social media apps support viewing and sharing, while short dramas follow a story across episodes.
TikTok Pro – Events ranked #1 and PineDrama – Short Dramas ranked #2 in the displayed U.S. iPhone Entertainment chart. Those placements are a snapshot, not a verdict on quality or a promise of what you will enjoy.
A November 2026 poll of 1,000 people found that 32% of mobile users preferred streaming apps over broadcast TV. The result points to changing viewing habits, but your own free time may call for something more social or hands-on.
TikTok works for quick videos, shared clips, and a steady stream of short posts. PineDrama focuses on short dramas, giving viewers brief episodes built around ongoing stories.
For an entertainment apps list that spans different interests, add TikTok, PineDrama, Letterboxd, Dropout, and BandLab to five video picks from the previous section: Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling Freestream, Kanopy, and Plex. iOS users can find these kinds of apps in the Entertainment category.
Film communities, comedy and creative tools
Letterboxd is a movie-focused social app for rating, reviewing, and tracking films. Its personal film diary and community tools suit viewers who like to record what they watch and discuss it with others.
Dropout streams exclusive comedy videos, including Game Changer and Um, Actually. BandLab takes a creative path with music-making tools, collaboration features, and an AI tool called SongStarter.
Choose a social, creative or film-community app when you want to make, track or discuss media instead of only watching it.
These apps turn spare time into a chance to share reactions, keep a film diary, or build a song with other people. Pick the activity that sounds fun before adding another streaming catalog.
Conclusion
The best setup is the one that covers the kind of entertainment you actually use each day. A free video app and a music service make a low-commitment starting pair, with room to change your choices as your habits shift.
Add a specialized app only when its purpose fits the way you spend time. A film diary, comedy service, or music-making tool can add something new, but it need not crowd your phone if you will rarely open it.
Pick one app to try today, then keep it only if it earns a regular place in your routine.
